The Vicksburg Post prints obituaries in news form for area residents, their family members and for former residents at no charge. Families wishing to publish additional information or to use specific wording have the option of a paid obituary.

Billy F. Brown Jr.

YAZOO CITY — Billy F. Brown Jr. died Sunday, April 13, 2008, as the result of a motor vehicle accident in Holmes County. He was 47.

Mr. Brown was born in Hinds County. He was a farm chemical salesman and a farmer. He was a member of First Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Yvonne Merchant Brown.

Survivors include his wife, Theresa Brown of Yazoo City; his father, Billy F. Brown Sr. of Yazoo City; two daughters, Courtney Brown and Callie Brown, both of Yazoo City; and a sister, Lisa Childress of Vicksburg.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church in Yazoo City with the Rev. David Bryant officiating. Burial will follow at Glenwood Cemetery in Yazoo City under the direction of Stricklin-King Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 5 until 7 this evening at the church.

Pallbearers will be Scott Haynes, Eric Jordan, Kevin Erickson, Bill Reeves, Rob Coker and Jimmy Sandling.

Mary Valentine Gray

Mary Valentine Gray died today, April 15, 2008, at River Region Medical Center. She was 65.

Born in Warren County, Mrs. Gray retired as a dietary worker from River Region Medical Center. She was a member of Calvary M.B. Church, where she was on the Usher Board.

She was preceded in death by a son, David Gray; two brothers, James Valentine and Freddie Valentine; one sister, Cora Smith; and her parents, Henry Sr. and Naomi Washington Valentine.

She is survived by her husband, David Gray Jr. of Vicksburg; two sons, Jerome Thomas Gray and David Gray III, both of Vicksburg; three daughters, Diane Denise Young, Marie Gray Smith and Lora Ann Gray, all of Vicksburg; two brothers, Ross Valentine of Vicksburg and Henry Valentine Jr. of Buffalo, N.Y.; five sisters, Naomi Patterson and Theresa Bailey, both of San Diego, Calif., and Martha Wesley, Eugenia Murphy and Katherine Brooks, all of Vicksburg; and grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

W.H. Jefferson Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Olivia Puryear

EDWARDS — Olivia Puryear died Monday, April 14, 2008, at Vicksburg Convalescent Home. She was 82.

Mrs. Puryear was an Edwards native.

Lakeview Memorial Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.

Dewey M. Wright Sr.

Dewey M. Wright Sr. died Sunday, April 13, 2008, at River Region Medical Center. He was 82.

Born in Madison, La., Mr. Wright had lived in Vicksburg most of his life. He was a retired Army veteran, serving from 1944 until 1969 when he returned to Vicksburg. He also retired from the Warren County Highway Department.

He was a former member of the VFW.

He was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Emily Vaughn Wright; and a son, Douglas C. Wright.

Survivors include one son, Dewey Wright II of Vicksburg; one daughter, Michelle Johnson of Houston, Texas; a brother, Claude F. Wright of Vicksburg; and three grandchildren.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Cedar Hill Cemetery with the Rev. Mike Fields officiating. Burial will follow under the direction of Glenwood Funeral Home. Visitation will be at the funeral home from 1 p.m. Wednesday until the service.